This Is Not a Waste of Time

If you're like me, you used to think moustaches were a complete waste of time let alone a waste of facial space.  Boy have times changed.  A decade ago, a few guys in Adelaide, Australia, got together to grow moustaches during the month of November and a global movement was born.  Chances are you can name a handful of friends and loved ones who are now Mo Bros all in the name of promoting men's health.  Oddly enough, this is what was on my mind when Kelly's book "I'm Really Not Wasting Time" came across my desk.

Sure my own moustache leaves a lot to be desired.  Some might even consider it a complete waste of time, but getting screened for prostate cancer (or any type of cancer for that matter) isn't.  My dad didn't think so, and they caught the cancer in time.  Not everyone is so lucky.

With that in mind, I made art to raise awareness.  By taking some tried and true slogans and campaigns, I used a combination of apps (gimp and snagit) and software (pages) to create this Movember collage.  Hopefully it might inspire others to make that appointment they've been meaning to make for a while.  Believe me, it's not a waste of time.   

An Invitation to Explore

Thanks to Heather's book and her invitation to explore, I finally got around to trying out something I've been meaning to do for a while.  I used the Paper 53 app to create different versions of the letter "e."  Originally, I was going to stop at one, but I couldn't help it.  The further I went, the more surprised I was at what I discovered.  I just wish I took more time to explore in my regular life.  Thanks, Heather!

Prague CZ

This week I was inspired by Patrick's book, In the Distance, to go back to special place that we both have in common, Prague.  Sifting through our photos with Lisa and Isabelle, we relived those special years, and it made me wonder why don't we do this more often. In trying to capture this in artistic form, I used a fun online tool called shape collage. Thanks, Patrick, for inadvertently nudging us to remember those important moments in the distant past that helped define us who we are today.

The Art of the Orchid

When thinking about how to capture orchids for Heather's book, I decided to go back to my roots (yes, pun intended).  A few months back, we went to the Art of the Brick exhibit at the ArtScience Museum, and we were amazed at what we saw.   So, I followed Nathan Sawaya's lead and started building an orchid from scratch.  Luckily I had photos I took from the National Orchid Garden to refer to, but I was limited to the colors my girls had in their lego box.  I also had to dismantle some of their structures to find all the pinks.  Shhh, don't tell.  Thanks, Heather, for letting me dig through the Lego box once again.  It felt so natural and peaceful.  Just like an orchid.

To Explore Is To Be Human

For Heather's book on Exploration, I decided to go to the best source I know related to this theme, National Geographic.  While flipping through the pages looking for images for my collage, I couldn't help but notice that not only do we explore ideas and concepts in the physical world, we do the same in the spiritual world.  In this collage, I chose a number of those images, and laid them out on top of a series of maps where places have been negatively impacted by human exploration.  In the end, I realized that to explore is to be human.  It's what sets us apart and makes us unique.  It's what compels us to take our wonderings and put them into action.  It's what motivates us to take risks and make the impossible possible.  And that's exactly what Heather's book drove me to do with this collage.  Thanks, Heather!

Harnessing Synergy in Heidi's Book

When looking to create synergy with fabric for Heidi's book ("Textiles:  Color, Freestyle, and Synergy in Art"), I couldn't help but notice that I was experiencing synergy first-hand.   Some of my initial ideas (a quilting patchwork, a collage of ribbons) were dead ends. They just didn't feel right.  It wasn't until I honed in on this dotted fabric that things clicked.  Why?  I have no idea.  It's not like I have a thing for polka dots.  That's just weird.  By chance though, when I cut the fabric, it frayed, leading me to peel away some of the strands.  An idea was born.  It reminds me that when we create (art, writing, etc.), we need to experiment, explore, and be willing to start again.  Because when we trust in the process synergy is bound to happen.

Playing with Perspective

One thing I love about art is how it allows me to live beyond my own experience.  Artists invite me to see the world differently by exposing me to their images, designs, and ideas.  In turn, I always come away with greater awareness, deeper appreciation, and more compassionate empathy.  In short, I am changed for the better.  

That's why I chose perspective as my theme.  Through art, our own perspective grows.  And while I can't wait to see what you'll come up with for my sketchbook, I know that our collective images, designs, and ideas will change us all for the better.

First post to create labels